Eat, sleep, breathe, drink, Arsenal

It’s turned into a week of difficult pieces to put together. Before Tuesday night we were a team gathering a head of steam ahead of a monster of a match at the bus stop in Fulham. Now we go into a match against unquestionably the form team of the moment with a midfield decimated by injury, suspension, and the African Cup of Nations.

A gap we hoped would be down to six points is up instead to nine, and should that grow to twelve tomorrow, well, it would leave us with no room for manoeuvre in the remaining fourteen fixtures. Can you see Chelsea losing four in that space of time?

Away with you, defeatism. Now is the time to consider just how we might repeat our 3-0 drubbing of the current leaders at the Grove in September. The same back five are available and it would be a surprise if Petr Cech didn’t start behind Hector Bellerin, Skhodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, and Nacho Monreal. The central pairing in particular were outstanding that day causing lone Chelsea raider, the loathsome Costa, to lose his head.

Francis Coquelin started that day with the imperious Santi Cazorla. Tomorrow, should we retain the 4-2-3-1 formation, he will need someone of less experience alongside him. Despite their contribution to a wonderful win at Southampton last weekend I suspect Chelsea away may be a Bridge too far (sorry!) for Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes no secret of his wish to play in the middle of the pitch and this is surely his opportunity to show what he can become for us?

Mesut Ozil is a given in the number ten role, but what of the attacking trio for him to provide the ammunition? In the home match we went for pace and fluidity with Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, and Alexis up top. I suspect that Arsene may opt for that tomorrow too, but Danny Welbeck looked very sharp last weekend and wasn’t involved in the Watford debacle. I would prefer him to start on the left in a strong, quick, and interchangeable front three. Lucas and Olivier Giroud give us good options from the bench if circumstances require.

There is another option open to Arsene, and that is to try and match Chelsea man for man by playing three at the back. Rob Holding is also not tarred with the Watford brush and could slot into a three. In this instance Keiran Gibbs might be preferred to Monreal on the left and Danny Welbeck might drop to the bench. This could negate what otherwise looks likely to be the home side outnumbering us in midfield.

Of course it is highly unlikely that Arsene would do the latter and so we really do need another performance of pace and power if we are to replicate September’s wonderful triumph. The measure of the task is in the fact that the invincibles were the last Gunners side to complete a double over Chelsea. Thirteen years could be unlucky for someone in a fixture that has become a test of discipline in recent years.

The ‘holic pound

The bookmakers are nervous about the outcome, and were we not the opposition I would seriously consider a healthy punt on them at just about odds on, 10/11. There, I’ve said it. Instead the voice in my other ear is looking at the value being offered on an entirely different outcome.

We are finishing matches strongly these days, even if we don’t always turn up for the start. I have to believe we will be up for it from the off tomorrow, and I am drawn to scores being level at half-time with us producing a match winning moment or two in the second-half at a best of 9/1.

There is one other factor in our favour tomorrow. I usually make the effort to get to this one, and I have been something of a jinx of late, it would appear. I am giving it a miss this season in the hope that this swings things decisively in our favour.

To those who are going I wish you a much better day than most are predicting. Wherever you are watching the match I wish all of you a great one, ‘holics.

13 is my lucky number H.
Let’s at least try to keep 11 men on the pitch this time.
I can cop a loss if it comes to that,as long as 120% effort is left on the pitch.
Be very surprised f we can knock them off,only thing maybe in our favor is the gut busting game they had at Anfield on Tuesday.
If we are in with a shout in the last 15,they may get leggy.
Fingers crossed.
I only know 2 Chelsea supporters,and they are truly great fella’s.
There will be no gloating from their side if they turn us over.

Picked up a very unexpected ticket for the game this afternoon. The last time I went to the Bus Stop was in the days of the cinder track!

I too hope Danny gets the nod with Alexis and Feo up front. Their mid-field is likely to control the game so we need to produce something extra special if we hope to get something from the game.

This will be my third away trip this season. Hopefully it will be 3rd time lucky, having watched a boring draw at Leicester and a disgraceful second half at Citi. Miracles do happen though not often at a Saturday early kick-off.

Costa will do his best to wind up our boys, they will need to keep their discipline when provoked. In recent times Red Cards have ruined our chances so a lot will depend on the competence of the Officials!

Have a safe trip and I’m hoping you’ll be leaving Bus Stop with a huge smile on your face!

As long as we turn up from the start it will be game on other than that we are in serious trouble. The other mental positive we have on our side is that we beat them few months ago that should give them enough belief to carry us though this one, unless there is nothing left of that in the squad.

Thanks for lifting the spirits Holic! Dry Jan is over thank you very much!

I want to be proud of the team tomorrow whatever the result. I’d be astonished if we won but Arsene does get us to bounce back well in adversity .
Holic has called the team options well. I think Danny , Perez and Giroud will be on the bench I see Egypt reached the AFCON final ( inevitably) so even if Elneny was fit he couldn’t get back in time.
Chelsea have NO injuries in February which tells its own story. Let’s look for a very positive performance tomorrow and what will be will be.

Naturally I prefer to have OG upfront, if only for his defensive qualities against the odious Costa. Otherwise Alexis with Danny LW, Theo RW.

AW will never play a back 3, imo, so back 4 as you suggest ‘holic. I’ve been impressed with Maitland-Niles’s temperament and think he might be worth a shot partnering Coq who really doesn’t want someone shaky beside him lest his own impulsive nature gets the better of him. Ox played well enough in his recent midfield outings, but the opposition wasn’t Chelski and he’s rarely shown the required quality previously.

Chelsea home record not that impressive.
Haven’t dropped a point since loss to Liverpool back in early Sept.
10 wins,1 loss, no draws.
Pretty poor really. !!
Again,it all comes down to winning the early battles,keeping things tight,no stupid mistakes,if we let them roll over us in midfield we are stuffed.
Concentrate 120% from the first minute till the last.
Not fucking rocket science.
Give the supporters a performance to be proud of,win,lose or draw.

Clive, we haven’t won at the bus stop since October 2011 when we put five past Petr Cech and we haven’t even scored there since January 2013 when Theo netted. And that, except for the five in 2011, was our only goal since November 2008. So it is time for the tide to turn.

Yes it is time Ned.
But have we the intestinal fortitude to make it happen. ??
Played all of the other 5 sides in the top 6 once,for a paltry return of 5 points out of a possible 15.
Without the collective belief,you cannot control the schrivelling of the players confidence when they step out in the big games.
Can it be overcome tomorrow. ??

Nice article as always.
I hope the team is more
optimistic than the supporters
(including me) !
Agree with the side, though i
might start with Perez and have
Danny from the bench. Perez
should be fitter and maybe more
likely to nick a goal.

Worth noting though that while we have taken only five points from five games against top-six sides this season, Manu U have only taken six from six, Man City seven from six and the neighbours nine from seven. Even Chelsea have taken only 10 from seven. Liverpool are most successful with 13 points from seven games.

I agree that the performance today is as important as the result. I can imagine that anyone would be sympathetic if there is another lacklustre performance.

Hector has to start. The Gabriel experience must surely have come to an end. Up front? Who knows? Personally I would start with Ollie G up front with Theo out wide. Both Theo and AOC deserve a start after their efforts at Watford.

Fingers crossed that the game mirrors the home match.

CBA. Love you to death you old bugger but Black Sabbath are shite.

For those going, enjoy. For those watching elsewhere, there is always the sofa to hide behind.

A dozen years ago I was heading off to Bermuda with Mrs TTG at about this time of year at lunchtime. We were playing at the bus stop and just as we sipped our coffee the news came through that we’d gone one down in the first minute. Faith didn’t waver and about 15 mins later Vieira equalised.
I then adeptly sent Mrs T shopping and went to the Gatwick bar to see the rest of the first half. As I arrived Edu scored . Our flight was. Allen and phones turned off but just as the engines were about to rev up I switched on the phone to find we had prevailed 2-1. That was a team without mental frailty and one that won at the Bridge for fun. If only we could recapture that spirit today

This is a game we can win. All that is needed is belief and unity. Intestinal fortitude? We have that in spades, just don’t show enough of it when it matters. If the lads make a fist of it, we Gooners will be pleasantly surprised.

We were outplayed all over the park during the first thirty minutes. Their players are generally bigger, more physical, cynical but also good footballers. I don’t know how it was not a foul on Bellerin.

Cech’ mistake was a metaphor for this game. I think I’m with Holic. This regime can’t take us any further . Sad , very sad but I think true. We haven’t had the personnel we wanted through injury but tactically they have been streets ahead of us. I hope Arsene doesn’t try to cling on now
I’m afraid we can’t go any further like this

Very disappointing day. Sanchez was missing today as was Ozil who slows things down. Chelsea wanted it more and were so combative and deserved the win.On today’s showing Fabregas is way better than Ozil. Welbeck showed the mentality our players must have to win at this level and Ox had a good game too. He has played well the last few games and I think he and Xhaka will be an effective pairing in the middle.

Most of our threats came from our left where Monreal had a good game.

We are poor because we don’t believe we can win the league and that is down to Wenger. I think Wenger himself doesn’t believe we can win the league and the players probably sense it.